Physical & Health Education · Lesson 4

Football, basketball, volleyball, handball, hockey, table tennis, badminton and tennis

JAMBWAECNECO

What the syllabus asks

JAMB: JAMB UTME PHE Section C2–C3 (ball games – football and basketball; racket games – table tennis and badminton: skills, facilities and equipment, rules, regulations and officiating)

WAEC: ball games (football, basketball, volleyball, handball, hockey) and racket games (table tennis, badminton, lawn tennis)

NECO: ball games (football, basketball, volleyball, handball, hockey) and racket games (table tennis, badminton, lawn tennis)

What you will learn

State the facilities, equipment and main laws of football.
Explain offside, fouls and misconduct and restarts in football.
Describe the court, equipment, rules, violations and officials in basketball.
State the main rules and skills of volleyball, handball and hockey.
Describe the specifications, rules and skills of table tennis.
Describe the specifications, rules and skills of badminton, including the 2027 scoring change.
Explain tennis scoring and principles of officiating.
Classify games and plan simple teaching progressions.

Key points

Football: 17 Laws; pitch 90–120 × 45–90 m; goal 7.32 × 2.44 m; ball 68–70 cm, 410–450 g.
Penalty area 16.5 m, goal area 5.5 m, penalty mark 11 m, circle 9.15 m.
11 players, min 7; up to 5 subs in top competitions; 2 × 45 min.
Offside offence only when involved in active play; not from goal kick, throw-in, corner.
DFK/penalty for careless, reckless or excessive-force fouls and handball; 8-second keeper rule → corner.
Basketball: Naismith 1891; 28 × 15 m; ring 3.05 m; 4 × 10 min; 24/8/5/3 s; 5 fouls out.
Volleyball: Morgan 1895; 18 × 9 m; net 2.43/2.24 m; 25-point sets; libero.
Handball: 40 × 20 m; 3 steps, 3 seconds; 7-m throw; 2 × 30 min.
Hockey: 91.40 × 55 m; 4 × 15 min; flat side only; goals from inside the circle.
Table tennis: 11-point games; serve toss 16 cm; alternate serve from 10–10.
Badminton: 21-point games, 3 × 15 from 4 Jan 2027; serve below 1.15 m; diagonal.
Tennis: 15-30-40, deuce, sets of six, tie-break.

Start here: Football: history, facilities and equipment

Association football (soccer) is the world’s most popular sport. Modern rules were first written by the Football Association in England in 1863. The Laws of the Game are made by the International Football Association Board (IFAB); FIFA (founded 1904) runs the world game, CAF runs African football and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) runs it in Nigeria. There are 17 Laws, updated every year from 1 July; this unit follows the 2025/26 edition.

Law 1: The field of play

Rectangular; touchlines (length) 90–120 m and goal lines (width) 45–90 m. For international matches: 100–110 m by 64–75 m.
Lines no wider than 12 cm and belong to the areas they enclose.
Goal area: lines 5.5 m from each post and 5.5 m into the field. Penalty area: lines 16.5 m from each post and 16.5 m into the field. Penalty mark: 11 m from the goal line. Penalty arc and centre circle: radius 9.15 m. Corner arc: radius 1 m. Corner flagposts at least 1.5 m high.
Goal: 7.32 m between posts (inside), crossbar 2.44 m above the ground; posts and bar white, no wider than 12 cm.

Law 2: The ball

Spherical, of suitable material, circumference 68–70 cm, weight 410–450 g at the start of the match, correct pressure. If it bursts, play stops and restarts with a dropped ball (or the original restart if the ball was out of play).

Law 4: Players’ equipment

Compulsory: shirt with sleeves, shorts, socks, shinguards (covered by socks) and footwear. Goalkeepers wear colours distinct from all other players and officials. No dangerous items (jewellery must be removed; taping it over is not allowed).

Worked example 4.1 (JAMB style)

The distance of the penalty mark from the goal line is (A) 9.15 m (B) 11 m (C) 16.5 m (D) 5.5 m. Answer: B.

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Practice questions

1. The height of a football crossbar is

2.44 m
2.43 m
3.05 m
2.24 m

Show answer

A: 2.44 m
Goal width 7.32 m.

2. Since July 2025, a goalkeeper holding the ball in the hands for more than 8 seconds concedes

a penalty kick
an indirect free kick
a throw-in
a corner kick

Show answer

D: a corner kick
IFAB 2025/26 Law 12.

3. The basketball ring is

2.43 m above the floor
3.50 m above the floor
3.05 m above the floor
2.44 m above the floor

Show answer

C: 3.05 m above the floor
2.44 m is the football crossbar.

4. The FIBA three-point line is

6.25 m
6.75 m from the point beneath the basket
5.80 m from the end line
7.24 m

Show answer

B: 6.75 m from the point beneath the basket
6.60 m near the sidelines.

5. The FIBA shot clock is

24 seconds
30 seconds
14 seconds
8 seconds

Show answer

A: 24 seconds
Reset to 14 in some situations.

Key words

IFAB: International Football Association Board: makes football’s Laws.
Offside position: Nearer the goal line than the ball and second-last opponent in the opponents’ half.
Direct free kick: Free kick from which a goal can be scored directly.
Indirect free kick: A goal needs a second touch before it counts.
VAR: Video assistant referee.
Travelling: Illegal movement of feet holding the ball.
Shot clock: 24-second limit to attempt a shot.
Alternating possession: Arrow system for jump-ball situations.
Libero: Volleyball defensive specialist.
Rotation: Clockwise movement of volleyball players on gaining serve.
Let: Replayed rally.
Expedite system: Table tennis rule to speed long games.

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